A LARGE percentage of today's parents had regular dental check-ups as children in an NHS system which the country was proud of.

That treatment and care often meant that in later life they suffered fewer problems with tooth decay than others who had not been so fortunate in their early years.

Today the situation is very different because unattractive pay arrangements have helped to lead to a chronic shortage of NHS dentists.

In East Lancashire, an area with traditionally high levels of tooth decay, just 52 per cent of children and 41 per cent of adults are at present registered with NHS dentists.

Across the area not one dentist is now taking on new NHS patients and the desperation of young and old was highlighted two years ago when a new dental centre opened in Rawtenstall and 1,500 people queued to try to get onto their books.

Costly private care is beyond the financial reach of many who will inevitably only see dentists in the future when it is a matter of painful necessity rather than to have treatment to protect against future problems.

Next year the government passes dental budgets to local health trusts.

But they will still be held accountable for a dental health system that needs urgent treatment to stop levels of tooth decay escalating out of control.